Fri. Oct. 28, 2016: Discussion of the Short Stories

Today, we viewed the following youtube videos. You can search and find them.

"Marry Gasmas" from "Corner Gas, Part I (3:39-3:56). I wanted you to see Oskar when he was a grouch.

The painted door - best short documentary (24:01 minutes)

We viewed these and examined the differences and the reasons for them.

We then watched Lamp at Noon Documentary (type that in 4:49  minutes)

I then provided the following notes on the similarities of themes between these three stories

Themes Present in Ross’ Short Stories

When reading from the perspective of one author, some theme patterns should emerge.

Similarities

1.      Weather

a.       All take place in “darker” months (using process of elimination, we can see that non are in spring due to the water situations in all; we can also see from the crops that it would not be spring but later on).

b.      All involve storms of some sort: thunder, dust, or snow.

c.       In all stories, the weather is personified negatively, as something evil and “out to get” the characters, or at least destroy their livelihood.

2.      Geography

a.       All take place on the prairies

b.      All take place in the 1930s

c.       All take place in farm houses

d.      All take place in rural settings

3.      Relationships

a.       All involve married couples in conflict

b.      All involve a man who wants to stay where he is

c.       All involve a woman who wants to leave where she is

d.      All involve a man who is either physically or emotionally distant

e.       All involve a woman who is not totally in control of her emotions

f.        All involve a man who does not want to be subjugated

g.       All involve a woman who wants, but does not have, any control over her situation

h.       All involve social isolation and miscommunication